From Rindfliesch's discovery of the central vessel in the MS lesion in 1863, to CCSVI and the CNS lymphatic discovery. 160 years of research on blood flow, CSF, lymph and perfusion of the central nervous system.
Because the heart and the brain are connected.

Welcome! This blog contains research & information on lifestyle, nutrition and health for those with MS, as well as continuing information on the understanding of the endothelium and heart-brain connection. This blog is informative only--all medical decisions should be discussed with your own physicians.

The posts are searchable---simply type in your topic of interest in the search box at the top left.

Almost all of MS research is initiated and funded by pharmaceutical companies. This maintains the EAE mouse model and the auto-immune paradigm of MS, and continues the 20 billion dollar a year MS treatment industry. But as we learn more about slowed blood flow, gray matter atrophy, and environmental links to MS progression and disability--all things the current drugs do not address--we're discovering more about how to help those with MS.

To learn how this journey began, read my first post from August, 2009. Be well! Joan

Thursday, August 22, 2013

With the growth of research into the connection of MS to cerebral blood flow, we've seen an interest in exploring new ways to address hypoperfusion (slowed blood flow), endothelial dysfunction (damaged blood vessels) and brain atrophy (loss of brain tissue).

Why is this? Because MS specialists, neurologists and advocacy groups are much more comfortable designing, testing and recommending a drug for MS, rather than encouraging healthy lifestyles and treating venous malformations. You cannot monetize or patent a diet, exercise and angioplasty. It's impossible to have a placebo-controlled clinical trial for lifestyle. But you can develop a drug and make a lot of money selling it to a population with a chronic and degenerative disease.

Please note that I am not recommending these specific drugs at all, I'm just pointing out how MS research is slowly shifting.

We saw this paradigm change happen with the Vitamin D. Six years ago, Jeff's neuro chuckled when I asked to have his D3 levels tested. But slowly, with independent research funded by patient advocacy groups like Direct MS, the research paradigm has changed. And now, neurologists are testing their new patients' vitamin D levels, and adding supplementation accordingly. I believe we will see this shift continue with drug approaches to reducing hypoperfusion.

This is tacet proof that blood flow matters in MS. But you will not hear that from neurologists-yet. They will discuss cerebral blood flow with their patients when they have a prescription they can write.

Here's some info on a few of these new medications which target blood flow, currently in clinical trials.

Ibudilast (MN-166)

Clinical trials in progressive MS patients to be lead by Dr. Robert Fox and the Cleveland Clinic with the NMSS. Dr. Fox received NMSS money to study CCSVI, and after finding new venous malformations in the jugular veins of people with MS, he has moved on to a clinical trial using a vasodilating and neuroprotective drug. Is this coincidental?

MN-166 has been marketed in Japan and Korea since 1989 to treat cerebrovascular disorders, including post-stroke complications, and bronchial asthma. MediciNova licensed MN-166 (ibudilast), from Kyorin Pharmaceutical for potential utility in MS.

Lisinopril

An inexpensive blood pressure medication and ACE inhibitor which modulates angiotensin. This drug opens up blood vessels and allows blood to flow more easily. This older drug is being developed to treat MS by Dr. Lawrence Steinman of Stanford University School of Medicine. (Dr. Steinman is also one of the inventors of Tysabri--which he has since spoken out against as a first line treatment for MS.)

... angiotensin immediately causes blood vessels to constrict. “That raises your blood pressure so when you stand up to get out of a chair, you don’t fall down and faint,” said Steinman, who is also the George A. Zimmerman Professor in the medical school. But angiotensin overactivity causes chronic hypertension. Lisinopril controls blood pressure by blocking an enzyme that converts angiotensin’s precursor into the active hormone. The drug also appears to have certain anti-inflammatory properties.

About Me

I became interested in multiple sclerosis (MS) research when my husband Jeff was diagnosed with MS in 2007. I noted a connection of Jeff's disease process to his circulation and blood, and by accessing medical journals on the internet and stacks of books at my local library, I put together research to address this. I sent my theory and research, called the Endothelial Health Program, to universities, and began a correspondence with vascular specialists at Stanford University.
Jeff was the first American treated for CCSVI, and he is now eight years past his venoplasty, with no further MS progression, healing of his gray matter, and relief of many symptoms. He's still jogging, working full time as a composer and conductor, and traveling the globe.